Good, clean topless fun

There is very little that compares to driving a convertible on a stunningly beautiful day. The wind in your hair, the sun on your face…so if you can afford something sublime, then the BMW 2 series Convertible is worth checking out.

After driving the gorgeous Audi A3 Cabriolet last year, having the 2 series Convertible in the prettiest week of spring, was a lovely little treat. When life gets you down, it’s a sure way of feeling a heck of a lot better about your situation. Early mid-life crisis? Cheating spouse? Drop that top and it’s all forgotten, albeit temporarily. No, it is not within the grasp of the average guy on the street, and by the time you’re old enough to afford one, you’re also too old to look cool driving it. But for a lucky few, the 2 series Convertible is not just a pipe dream.

Styling wise, the 2 series Convertible is not my favourite soft-top du jour. Compared to the Audi A3 Cabriolet, its body doesn’t look quite as toned, nor as understatedly elegant as the Audi. The 2-series doesn’t have an awe-inspiring rear-end either. Parked next to the svelte A3, it doesn’t look as tidy. Interior styling is quality all the way, as one has come to expect from BMW. But compared to Audi’s cool, contemporary minimalism, it just seems very ordinary, especially the instrument binnacle. The brown leather seats bestow some classical character upon the cabin, and as far as build quality goes, the 2 Series is German OCD at its finest.

Space in the back is suitable for under-aged children. We picked up my 6 and 7-year old from school one day, and they did not complain too much. They were more impressed that the front seats could move backwards and forwards electrically, and that the driver’s seat had a memory function (optional at R 10 200). We were surprised by the available boot space: With the top up, it’s 335 litres, and even when the roof is stowed, there are 280 litres for some weekend getaway gear. And if you’re halfway to the corner shop and it starts to rain, it takes only 20 seconds for the roof to return to its place above your head. You need not slow down to a snail’s pace either – as long as you’re driving 50km per hour or less, it will easily do its thing.

The 228i variant has a divine two-litre, four-cylinder engine, and it is smooth, powerful and capable. If you wanted a two-litre Audi, you’d have to forego your cabriolet dreams, because the largest engine in the drop-top’s rival is a 1.8T FSI, with 132kW (R 491 000). The 2 Series 228i offers a much more meaty 180kW, replacing the naturally aspirated straight-six, and driven in Sport mode it makes for an enticing drive, if you know of a place where the Bimmer can stretch its legs. Its lithe body loves being thrown into corners, and has plenty of grip. At all times, the chassis is as composed as Beethoven’s Fifth. As for gear changes? Imperceptible, almost. The optional 8-speed Sport Automatic Transmission is mighty fine. And it should be, at R21 100.

In typical European fashion, our beautiful example of German craftsmanship was fitted with an array of extras, such as Park Assist (R 5 900), Park Distance Control (R 7 700), a Harman Kardonn sound system (R 8 400), High Beam Assist (R 1 950), and, get this: Acoustic seat belt warning. That annoying noise that reminds you to buckle up? You have to pay R450 for it in the BMW. We also had Satnav Professional (R233 300), which is a bit ludicrous. The more basic Satnav Business costs R 10 600. Better yet, use Google Maps on your smartphone, because all of these nice-to-haves quickly add up. With all the boxes ticked (of which not all are mentioned here), the 2 Series Convertible carries a price tag of R 673 122,80.

If you’re a BMW fan, the 2 series Convertible will be right up your alley. And with the amount of options available it really can be fashioned to your exact liking. My dream 2 series Convertible is white, with red leather seats. It should doll up the interior quite nicely, I think…

Facts & Figures

Base price	: R 525 000
Engine	: 2.0-litre, four-cylinder petrol
Power	: 180 kW
Torque	: 350 Nm
Top speed	: 250 km/h
0 to 100 km/h	: 5.7 seconds
Fuel tank	: 52 litres
Realistic fuel consumption	: About 11 litres per 100 km (combined)
Boot size	: 390 litres
Also consider	: Audi A3 Cabriolet 1.8T FSI